Luxembourg national rugby union team

The Luxembourg national rugby union team is a minor team, and is ranked as a third tier nation. The team participates in the annual Rugby Europe Championship Conference 2 North 2017–18 Rugby Europe Conference. Since 1996 Luxembourg also competes in the sevens circuits in Europe Luxembourg national rugby sevens team.

Luxembourg Rugby Federation
UnionFédération Luxembourgeoise de rugby
Ground(s)Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg City
Coach(es)Jonathan Flynn, James Kent
Captain(s)Romain Kimmel
Most capsNigel Shaplin (51)
Top scorerGilles Caviglia (288)
Most triesSteve Knowles, Adrien Timmermans (11)
Team kit
Change kit
First international
Belgium 28 – 6 Luxembourg
3 May 1975
Largest win
Luxembourg 78 – 12 Norway
15 April 2000
Largest defeat
Luxembourg 3 – 116 Sweden
5 May 2001
Luxemburg National Team
Official website
www.rugby.lu

Luxembourg has been a member of FIRA since 1976, two years after the founding of Luxembourg Rugby Federation (French: Fédération Luxembourgeoise de Rugby (FLR)). The Grand Duchy has participated several times in the FIRA championships and, despite the small size, has honourably acquitted itself. Luxembourg has also been a member of the International Rugby Board since 1991.

The Luxembourg rugby team is the only national sports team to have been three times champions of their group in a European competition. In 1995, more than 20 points scored against Slovenia at Cessange and more than 20 points scored in Split against Croatia and finally an excellent draw against Andorra in Luxembourg enabled them to be champions of their group. In 1997 they won the Bronze Cup with wins against Bosnia, Bulgaria and Monaco. Luxembourg has in their past encounter recorded a 10–10 draw against Georgia, but the best performance to date was a “Grand Slam” in 2004 in FIRA-AER European Cup division 3B. In the 2017-2018 campaign, Luxembourg won the Grand Slam against Denmark, Norway, Finland and Estonia in the Rugby Europe Conference 2 North, while also integrating several young players in the squad, and gained promotion to the Rugby Europe Conference 1 North for the 2018-2019 campaign.

After two narrow losses to group favourites Ukraine and Sweden, Luxembourg beat Moldova 23–10 at home to, for the first time ever, secure a spot for a second consecutive year on this level. Two weeks later Luxembourg also beat Hungary away 18–15, showing the potential of the team.

The national side is ranked 56th in the world (as of 4 November 2019).[1]

National clubs

The Rugby Club Luxembourg was founded in May 1973 by a group of expatriates working in the Grand Duchy. Several of the founders still live in Luxembourg and contribute one way or another to the sport. The club played its first competitive game against US Castillionnaise in September 1973. Up until 1995, the club played in the Alsace-Lorraine regional league. In that year, the team joined the Belgian second division, which it belonged to until 1998, when it earned promotion to the first division. In 2001, the club decided to return to the French league system, again playing regionally in Alsace-Lorraine. It won its division in 2008 but, after an invitation to play in Germany, decided to join the German league system in 2009. In the 2017–2018 season, RCL is leading Bundesliga 2 West unbeaten and hopes to secure promotion to Bundesliga 1 for the 2018–2019 season.

De Rugby Club Walferdange was founded in 1990. In 2001, after 10 years in the Belgian League they finished top of the third division and champion during the 2002/03 season. In its first season in the second division, the club was relegated to 3rd Division. The club's objective having gone through a rebuilding phase, is to return to and remain in the Belgian 2nd division.

The Richard Mertens Club is a member of the European Community sports clubs (French: Cercle Sportif des Communautés Européennes) and concentrates on U-7/U-19, its goal being to promote the game of rugby in Luxembourg and act as a feeder club for the two senior clubs of Luxembourg with any talented players. Player retention remains a concern for Luxembourgish rugby with most of such players stopping the sport after school for various reasons, even if they remain in Luxembourg. Despite this, the school has had some success stories since its inception with a few of its past players having gone on to play for well known university and club sides, or having gone on to represent Luxembourg at the senior level.

In 2017, a fourth club was founded in the south of the country in Dudelange, Rugby Club Terres Rouge. The club exclusively caters for the youth; it has been implied by the founders that there is potential for founding a senior team.

Statistics XV

Test Record

World Rugby Ranking 56th, highest 56th (4NOV19), lowest 94th (1DEC08)

Longest winning streak 10 (APR 14 to MAY 16)

Sortable and collapsible table
Opponent Played Won Lost Drawn
 Andorra5131
 Armenia1010
 Austria6420
 Azerbaijan1100
 Belgium4040
 Bermuda1010
 Bosnia and Herzegovina9630
 Bulgaria9270
 Croatia2110
 Cyprus2020
 Czech Republic2020
 Denmark5320
 East Germany1100
 Estonia1100
 Finland9810
 Georgia1001
 Germany2020
 Greece6330
 Hungary3120
 Israel9360
 Latvia3030
 Lithuania6240
 Malta1010
 Moldova2110
 Monaco2101
 Norway6510
 Serbia2200
 Slovenia6420
 Sweden6150
  Switzerland5140
 Tunisia1010
 Ukraine1010
 Yugoslavia1010
Total12152663

Match Record XV

Sortable and collapsible table
# Opponent Year Date FLR Opp W/L/D H/A Season T C P DP Competition Coach Captain Comments
123 Hungary20209/05/2020----2019-202000002019-20 Conference 1 NorthJon Flynn-North 1 19-20
122 Latvia20202/05/2020----2019-202000002019-20 Conference 1 NorthJon Flynn-North 1 19-20
121 Sweden20192/11/2019130WA2019-202011202019-20 Conference 1 NorthJon FlynnR KimmelNorth 1 19-20
120 Czech Republic201912/10/2019736LH2019-202011002019-20 Conference 1 NorthJon FlynnR KimmelNorth 1 19-20
119 Hungary201905/04/20191815WA2018-201921202018-19 Conference 1 NorthJon FlynnM DozinNorth 1 18-19
118 Moldova201913/04/20192310WH2018-201922212018-19 Conference 1 NorthJon FlynnR KimmelNorth 1 18-19
117 Sweden201803/11/2018910LH2018-201900302018-19 Conference 1 NorthJon FlynnR KimmelNorth 1 18-19
116 Ukraine201813/10/20181324LA2018-201911202018-19 Conference 1 NorthJon FlynnR KimmelNorth 1 18-19
115 Norway201828/04/20183516WH2017-201831602017-18 Conference 2 NorthJon FlynnR KimmelPromotion to Conference 1 North North 2 17-18
114 Finland201814/04/2018455WH2017-201866102017-18 Conference 2 NorthJon FlynnR KimmelNorth 2 17-18
113 Estonia201711/11/2017640WH2017-2018107002017-18 Conference 2 NorthJ FlynnR KimmelNorth 2 17-18
112 Denmark201714/10/2017183WA2017-201821202017-18 Conference 2 NorthJ FlynnR KimmelNorth 2 17-18
111 Czech Republic201706/05/2017333LH2016-201700102016-17 Conference 1 NorthJ FlynnS RezapourNorth 1 16-17 Relegation.
110 Lithuania201722/04/20171224LA2016-201700402016-17 Conference 1 NorthJ FlynnS RezapourNorth 1 16-17
109 Sweden201605/11/2016019LH2016-201700002016-17 Conference 1 NorthJ FlynnR KimmelNorth 1 16-17
108 Latvia201622/10/20162431LA2016-201742002016-17 Conference 1 NorthJ FlynnS RezapourNew ENC structure - North 1 16-17
107 Slovenia201614/05/20162910WH2015-201622502014-16 ENC 2CJ FlynnS Rezapour1st Promotion 2B ENC 2C 14-16
106 Denmark201630/04/20161914WA2015-201620302014-16 ENC 2CJ FlynnS RezapourENC 2C 14-16
105 Serbia201514/11/20153024WH2015-201642112014-16 ENC 2CJ FlynnS RezapourENC 2C 14-16
104 Austria201524/10/2015346WA2015-201644202014-16 ENC 2CJ FlynnS RezapourENC 2C 14-16
103 Denmark201509/05/2015135WH2014-201520102014-16 ENC 2CM DavisS RezapourENC 2C 14-16
102 Slovenia201508/04/20151411WA2014-201522002014-16 ENC 2CM DavisS RezapourENC 2C 14-16
101 Austria201408/11/20141813WH2014-201521202014-16 ENC 2CM DavisS RezapourENC 2C 14-16
100 Serbia201425/10/2014360WA2014-201554102014-16 ENC 2CM DavisS RezapourENC 2C 14-16
99 Finland201410/05/2014277WH2013-201433202012-14 ENC 2DM DavisS Rezapour1st Promotion 2C - ENC 2D 12-14
98 Greece201426/04/2014528WA2013-201486002012-14 ENC 2DM DavisS RezapourENC 2D 12-14
97 Bosnia and Herzegovina201309/11/20131224LH2013-201421002012-14 ENC 2DM DavisS RezapourENC 2D 12-14
96 Norway201319/10/201397WA2013-201400302012-14 ENC 2DM DavisS RezapourENC 2D 12-14
95 Israel201305/10/20131226LH2013-201400402015 Rugby World Cup R2M DavisS RezapourMatch 2
94 Slovenia201305/05/20132210WH2012-201341002015 Rugby World Cup R1M DavisS RezapourMatch 1
93 Greece201320/04/2013207WH2012-201322202012-14 ENC 2DM DavisS RezapourQualified 2015 RWC R1 Mid Season Table ; ENC 2D 12-14
92 Bosnia and Herzegovina201313/04/20132333LA2012-201331202012-14 ENC 2DM DavisS RezapourENC 2D 12-14
91 Norway201210/11/2012158WH2012-201330002012-14 ENC 2DM DavisS RezapourENC 2D 12-14
90 Finland201206/10/20121614WA2012-201311302012-14 ENC 2DM DavisS RezapourENC 2D 12-14
89 Greece201205/05/2012158WH2011-201200502010-12 ENC 2DM DavisS Rezapour5th in 2D ENC 2D 10-12
88 Finland201221/04/2012263WH2011-201222312010-12 ENC 2DM DavisS RezapourENC 2D 10-12
87 Bulgaria201122/10/20111619LA2011-201220202010-12 ENC 2DM DavisC EllisENC 2D 10-12
86 Cyprus201108/10/2011748LA2011-201211002010-12 ENC 2DM DavisC EllisENC 2D 10-12
85 Cyprus201107/05/2011050LH2010-201100002010-12 ENC 2DM DavisS RezapourENC 2D 10-12
84 Greece201102/04/20111830LA2010-201121202010-12 ENC 2DM DavisS RezapourENC 2D 10-12
83 Bulgaria201013/11/2010818LH2010-201110102010-12 ENC 2DM DavisS RezapourENC 2D 10-12
82 Finland201009/10/20101810WA2010-201121202010-12 ENC 2DM DavisS RezapourENC 2D 10-12
81 Israel201001/05/20101719LH2009-201022102008-10 ENC 3CM DavisS Rezapour4th in 3C ; New FIRA-AER structure ENC 3C 08-10
80 Greece201013/03/2010917LA2009-201000302008-10 ENC 3CM DavisS RezapourENC 3C 08-10
79 Finland200907/11/200993WH2009-201000302008-10 ENC 3CM DavisS RezapourENC 3C 08-10
78 Bulgaria200924/10/20091225LA2009-201021002008-10 ENC 3CM DavisS RezapourENC 3C 08-10
77 Greece200925/04/20091417LH2008-200910302008-10 ENC 3CM DavisP EvansENC 3C 08-10
76 Israel200921/03/2009030LA2008-200900002008-10 ENC 3CM DavisP EvansENC 3C 08-10
75 Bulgaria200829/11/20081018LH2008-200911102008-10 ENC 3CM DavisS RezapourENC 3C 08-10
74 Finland200802/10/20082719WA2008-200921502008-10 ENC 3CM DavisS RezapourENC 3C 08-10
73 Finland200824/05/20081011LA2007-200811102006-2008 ENC 3CM DavisZ Neves Dos Santos2nd in 3CENC 3C 06-08
72 Israel200803/05/20081220LA2007-200821002006-2008 ENC 3CM DavisZ Neves Dos SantosENC 3C 06-08
71 Slovenia200819/04/2008310LH2007-200800102006-2008 ENC 3CM DavisZ Neves Dos SantosENC 3C 06-08
70 Bosnia and Herzegovina200727/10/2007303WH2007-200821602006-2008 ENC 3CM DavisA ThompsonENC 3C 06-08
69 Israel200720/05/20072215WH2006-200732102006-2008 ENC 3CM DavisA ThompsonENC 3C 06-08
68 Slovenia200705/05/20071625LA2006-200711302006-2008 ENC 3CM DavisA ThompsonENC 3C 06-08
67 Bosnia and Herzegovina200721/04/20071712WA2006-200722102006-2008 ENC 3CM DavisA ThompsonENC 3C 06-08
66 Finland200630/09/2006168WH2006-200711302006-2008 ENC 3CM DavisA ThompsonENC 3C 06-08
65 Norway200606/05/2006825LH2005-200610012005-2006 ENC 3CM DavisA Thompson2nd in 3C ENC 3C 05-06
64 Azerbaijan200629/04/2006313WA2005-200632402005-2006 ENC 3CM DavisA ThompsonENC 3C 05-06
63 Bosnia and Herzegovina200512/11/2005207WA2005-200622202005-2006 ENC 3CM DavisA ThompsonENC 3C 05-06
62 Israel200529/10/2005193WH2005-200611402005-2006 ENC 3CM DavisA ThompsonENC 3C 05-06
61 Armenia200501/10/20051239LH2005-200600312005-2006 ENC 3B/3C PlayoffM DavisA Thompson2nd Round ENC 3B/3C
60 Austria200507/05/2005911LH2004-200500302007 Rugby World Cup R2M DavisA Thompson5th in Pool B - RWC 07
59 Moldova200516/04/2005655LA2004-200500202007 Rugby World Cup R2M DavisA ThompsonRWC 07
58 Germany200427/11/2004096LA2004-200500002007 Rugby World Cup R2M DavisA ThompsonRWC 07
57 Denmark200413/11/200456LH2004-200510002007 Rugby World Cup R2M DavisA ThompsonRWC 07
56 Austria200408/05/20041918WA2003-200411402003-2004 ENC 3BM DavisA Van Zealand1st Promotion to 3A - ENC 3B 03-04
55 Bulgaria200424/04/2004395WH2003-200463102003-2004 ENC 3BM DavisA Van ZealandENC 3B 03-04
54 Lithuania200308/11/200398WH2003-200400302003-2004 ENC 3BM DavisA Van ZealandENC 3B 03-04
53 Bosnia and Herzegovina200325/10/2003318WA2003-200432402003-2004 ENC 3BM DavisA Van ZealandENC 3B 03-04
52 Lithuania200324/05/2003660LA2002-200300302002-2003 ENC 3BM GilliesP. Boeglin3rd in Pool B - ENC 3B 02-03
51 Austria200310/05/20032514WH2002-200332202002-2003 ENC 3BM GilliesG DuboisENC 3B 02-03
50 Malta200329/03/003634LA2002-200300202002-2003 ENC 3BM GilliesG DuboisENC 3B 02-03
49 Bosnia and Herzegovina200227/10/2002215WH2002-200333002002-2003 ENC 3BM GilliesA ThompsonENC 3B 02-03
48 Israel200201/06/20023119WH2001-200253002001-2002 ENC 3BM GilliesA Thompson4th in Pool 2 (B) - ENC 3B 01-02
47 Lithuania200204/05/2002726LH2001-200211002001-2002 ENC 3BM GilliesS FocusENC 3B 01-02
46 Bosnia and Herzegovina200127/10/20011213LA2001-200221002001-2002 ENC 3BM GilliesS WilliamsENC 3B 01-02
45 Hungary200106/10/20011719LH2001-200222102001-2002 ENC 3BM GilliesS WilliamsENC 3B 01-02
44 Austria200112/05/2001077LA2000-200100002003 Rugby World Cup R1A TribelliniM Bus5th in Pool A - RWC 03
43 Sweden200105/05/20013116LH2000-200100102003 Rugby World Cup R1A TribelliniS FocasRWC 03
42 Israel200103/03/2001362LH2000-200100102003 Rugby World Cup R1A TribelliniS FocasRWC 03
41 Latvia200028/10/20001924LA2000-200132002003 Rugby World Cup R1G BrittinA ThompsonRWC 03
40 Norway200023/09/2000419WA2000-200165002003 Rugby World Cup R1G BrittinA ThompsonFirst match of the entire 2003 Rugby World Cup ; RWC 03
39 Lithuania200013/05/2000406WH1999-200053001999-2000 ENC 4G BrittinS Focus2nd in Pool 3 - ENC 4C
38 Norway200015/04/20007812WH1999-2000126201999-2000 ENC 4G BrittinS FocusENC 4C
37 Sweden199923/10/1999834LA1999-200010101999-2000 ENC 4G BrittinS FocusENC 4C
36 Tunisia199901/05/1999532LH1998-199910001998-1999 FIRA 3G BrittinR Stub4th in "Silver" Pool 1 FIRA 3A Serbia and Montenegro match cancelled due to Kosovo War.
35 Belgium199906/03/1999838LA1998-199910101998-1999 FIRA 3G BrittinN EdwardsFIRA 3A
34 Germany199825/10/1998754LA1998-199911001998-1999 FIRA 3G BrittinR StubFIRA 3A
33 Monaco199818/04/19981812WH1997-199821201997-1998 FIRA 3G BrittinN Edwards1st Place - "Bronze" Pool FIRA 3
32 Bosnia and Herzegovina199828/03/1998225WH1997-199832101997-1998 FIRA 3G BrittinS WilliamsFIRA 3
31 Bulgaria199718/10/1997396WA1997-199872001997-1998 FIRA 3G BrittinN EdwardsFIRA 3
30 Sweden199719/04/1997548LA1996-199710001999 Rugby World Cup R1(A)G MallabyJ Jenkins5th in Pool 3 - RWC 99
29 Andorra199713/03/19971630LH1996-199710001999 Rugby World Cup R1(A)G MallabyG PaulRWC 99
28 Hungary199602/11/1996312LH1996-199700101999 Rugby World Cup R1(A)G MallabyG PaulRWC 99
27 Lithuania199605/10/1996326LA1996-199700101999 Rugby World Cup R1(A)G MallabyJ JenkinsRWC 99
26 Monaco199604/05/199688DA1995-199610101995-1996 FIRA ?M GilliesN EdwardsMonaco's 1st Test match
25 Israel199607/04/19961220LA1995-199600401995-1996 FIRA 3M GilliesJ Jenkins3rd in Pool 3 - FIRA 3
24 Croatia199528/10/1995716LH1995-199611001995-1996 FIRA 3M GilliesT WhitemanFIRA 3
23 Bermuda199516/05/1995028LH1994-19950000Test MatchM GilliesT Whiteman
22 Andorra199513/05/19951818DH1994-199500511994-1995 FIRA 2M GilliesT Whiteman1st Place Pool C - FIRA 2C
21  Switzerland199530/04/199560WA1994-199500001994-1995 FIRA 2M GilliesT WhitemanSUI forfeited the match as they were unable to host due to financial issues; FIRA 2C
20 Croatia199403/12/19942112WA1994-199521301994-1995 FIRA 2M GilliesM GilliesFIRA 2C
19 Slovenia199431/10/1994223WH1994-199532101994-1995 FIRA 2M GilliesT WhitemanFIRA 2C
18 Latvia199414/05/19941025LH1993-199411101993-1994 FIRA 3M GilliesM Gillies4th in Pool A - FIRA 3C
17  Switzerland199430/04/1994817LH1993-199411101993-1994 FIRA 3M GilliesM GilliesFIRA 3C
16 Georgia199331/10/19931010DH1993-199411101993-1994 FIRA 3M GilliesA EmeringFIRA 3C
15  Switzerland199301/05/19931037LA1992-199311101995 Rugby World Cup Prelim RR ThurlowA Emering4th in West Group - RWC 95 FLR withdrew
14 Bulgaria199301/03/19931316LH1992-19931120?1995 Rugby World Cup Prelim R/FIRA?M GilliesA EmeringWest Group shows SUI, DEN, AND and LUX, maybe BUL friendly/playoff. 1st 5 pts try ; Need to find.
13 Denmark199217/10/1992919LH1992-199300301995 Rugby World Cup Prelim RR ThurlowM GilliesRWC 95; FLR withdrew
12 East Germany199015/09/1990179WH1990-19913110?1990-91IRA?I BonalloG PaulFriendly? LUX or DDR not in 1990–92 FIRA Trophy DDR last match
11 Yugoslavia199013/05/1990628LH1989-199000201989-90 FIRA TrophyI BonalloS Duncan3rd in Division 3 - FIRA 3
10 Andorra199029/04/1990626LA1989-199011001989-90 FIRA TrophyI BonalloS DuncanFIRA 3
9 Bulgaria198914/05/1989413LA1987-198910001987-89 FIRA TrophyS RowlandsC Phipps3rd in Division 3 - FIRA 3
8 Andorra198923/04/1989108WH1987-198910201987-89 FIRA TrophyS RowlandsC PhippsFIRA 3
7 Bulgaria198824/04/1988414LH1987-198910001987-89 FIRA TrophyS RowlandsT SavageFIRA 3
6 Andorra198708/11/1987324LA1987-198900011987-89 FIRA TrophyS RowlandsG PaulFIRA 3
5  Switzerland198019/04/1980710LA1979-19801010?1979-80 FIRA?B DrakeF MastroddiFriendly? neither LUX or SUI are not in 1979–80 FIRA Trophy
4 Belgium197919/05/1979710LA1978-19891010?1978-79 FIRA?C BaldiB DrakeFriendly? LUX not in 1978–79 FIRA Trophy
3  Switzerland197714.05.197747LH1976-197710001976-77 FIRA TrophyC BaldiF Mastroddi4th in Division 3 - FIRA 3 LUX never played YOU in their group
2 Belgium197727.04.1977324LH1976-197700101976-77 FIRA TrophyC BaldiA BinsteadDivision 3 - FIRA 3
1 Belgium197503/05/1975628LA1974-19751100?1975 FIRA?R MarshallF Mastroddi4pts try, Friendly? LUX not in 1975–76 FIRA Trophy
Total1,8952,4222121321877

Career XV

View more additional detail Player Statistics

Current Season XV

Current squad XV

See also Player Statistics

See also

Clubs

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.